Carlotta becomes hurricane, threatens Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTRE

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CARLOTTA BECOMES A HURRICANE, NEW WARNINGS AND WATCHES FOR THE COAST OF MEXICO.

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR:

• THE PACIFIC COAST OF MEXICO FROM SALINA CRUZ TO ACAPULCO

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR:

• THE PACIFIC COAST OF MEXICO EAST OF SALINA CRUZ TO BARRA DE TONALA
• THE PACIFIC COAST OF MEXICO WEST OF ACAPULCO TO TECPAN DE GALEANA

INTERESTS ALONG THE COAST OF MEXICO WEST OF TECPAN DE GALEANA TO CABO CORRIENTES SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF CARLOTTA.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA.

PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA, PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 800 AM PDT, 1500 UTC, THE EYE OF HURRICANE CARLOTTA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.0 NORTH, LONGITUDE 96.0 WEST.

CARLOTTA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH, 19 KM/H.

THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT, WITH A TURN TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AND A SLOWER FORWARD SPEED EXPECTED ON SATURDAY.

ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF CARLOTTA SHOULD MOVE NEAR OR OVER THE COAST OF SOUTHERN MEXICO LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 80 MPH, 130 KM/H, WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

CARLOTTA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE.

RAPID STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT, AND CARLOTTA COULD BECOME A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE AS THE CENTER APPROACHES THE COAST OF MEXICO.

AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS CURRENTLY ENROUTE TO INVESTIGATE CARLOTTA.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES, 35 KM, FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES, 110 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 985 MB, 29.09 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND: HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA BY TONIGHT, WITH TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED BY THIS AFTERNOON.

HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE HURRICANE WATCH AREA BY SATURDAY.

STORM SURGE: A DANGEROUS STORM SURGE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT COASTAL FLOODING TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE CENTER.

NEAR THE COAST, THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES.

RAINFALL: CARLOTTA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES, 75 TO 125 MM, OVER THE MEXICAN STATES OF CHIAPAS, GUERRERO, AND NORTHERN OAXACA, WITH 6 TO 10 INCHES, 150 TO 250 MM, EXPECTED OVER SOUTHERN OAXACA.

ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 12 TO 15 INCHES, 300 TO 375 MM MM, ARE ANTICIPATED ALONG THE OAXACA COAST, WITH 6 TO 8 INCHES, 150 TO 200 MM ALONG THE GUERRERO COAST.

THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES.

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